Shake responsive handheld device

ABSTRACT

A shake responsive handheld device is provided. The handheld device comprises a storage unit, a sound output, a motion sensing unit, a motions state determining unit, and a processing unit. The storage unit stores at least one media file configured for reproducing sound of tumbling dice in a dice shaker. The sound output is used for outputting sound. The motion sensing unit is used for detecting a shaking motion imparted to the housing by a user. The motions state determining unit is used for monitoring a shake level of the shaking motion according to signals from the motion sensing unit. When the at least one media file is playing, the processing unit adjusts the sound volume of the sound output unit according to the shake level determined by the motion state determining unit.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is one of the related co-pending U.S. patent applications as listed. Such cases have the same assignee as the current application and have been concurrently filed. The disclosures of the applications listed in Table 1 are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TABLE 1 Attorney Docket No. Title Inventors US19428 SHAKE RESPONSIVE Chuan-Hong Wang HANDHELD DEVICE Hsiao-Chung Chou Li-Zhang Huang Chia-Yu Cheng Jui-Lin Ke US19430 SHAKE RESPONSIVE Chuan-Hong Wang HANDHELD DEVICE Hsiao-Chung Chou Li-Zhang Huang Chia-Yu Cheng Cheng-Hao Cheng Jui-Lin Ke

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to shake responsive handheld devices and, more particularly, to a shake responsive handheld device for simulating the shaking of dice.

2. Description of Related Art

Many portable computing devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, and portable media players, enable users to play games of chance, for example, games that require a user to roll simulated dice and make moves based upon the outcome of the dice roll. One common dice game for Motorola and Nokia mobile phones is “Jacado Dice”, a game in which users place bets and press a button to toss the simulated dice.

In general, such dice games are played by rolling the dice for the user automatically or based upon a simple button press, which differs significantly from the experience of physically rolling dice. In the real world, there is a causal relationship between physically tossing dice and observing the outcome that has made dice games so popular over the centuries. Therefore, there is a need to provide a handheld device that can be shaken to simulate dice rolling in the real world.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a handheld device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a relationship table in accordance with an exemplary embodiment that is stored in a storage unit of the handheld device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an assembled, cross-sectional view of the vibration switch shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an assembled, cross-sectional view of the vibration switch of FIG. 1, taken from the line II-II in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an assembled, cross-sectional view of the vibration switch of FIG. 1 in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a handheld device 100 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosures. The handheld device 100 includes a storage unit 200, a motion sensor 300, a motion state determining unit 400, a sound volume determining unit 500, a processing unit 600, a sound output unit 700, and a video output unit 800.

The storage unit 200 can be any appropriate storage medium, such as a read-only memory or a random-access memory, and stores at least one shaking media file. The shaking media file is configured for reproducing sound of tumbling dice in a dice shaker. When needed, different type of shaking media file may be created for reproducing different type of sound. For example, such sound may include rolling dice in a wooden dice shaker or a metallic dice shaker.

The storage unit 200 also stores a fade-out media file. The fade-out media file is configured for reproducing a sound effect of tumbling dice that roll inertially and gradually come to a stop from a dice shaker onto a surface after the shaking of the dice shaker has ceased.

The storage unit 200 further stores a relationship table and a simulation program. The table defines a plurality of shake levels which indicate different shaking strengths of the shaking motion imparted to the handheld device 100. Specifically, the more strongly the handheld device 100 is shaken, the higher the shake level is. The table also defines a plurality of sound volume levels which indicate different sound volumes of the sound output unit 700. As shown in FIG. 2, each shake level corresponds to one sound volume level. The simulation program is configured for providing a moving graphical representation of tumbling dice on the surface and generating a random game result.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in an exemplary embodiment, the motion sensor 300 is a vibration switch and comprises a housing 310, a side cap 320, a coil spring 330, a first contact terminal 340, a second contact terminal 350, and a metal sheet 360.

A chamber 311 is formed in the housing 310. The side cap 320 is attached to the opening end of the housing 310 to cover the chamber 311. The coil spring 330 is received in the chamber 311 in a cantilevered way, that is, one end the coil spring 330 is attached to the side cap 320 and is electrically coupled to the first contact terminal 340, while the other end of the coil spring 330 is floated.

The metal sheet 360 is positioned on the inner surface of the chamber 311 and electrically coupled to the second contact terminal 350. Specifically, the metal sheet 360 is configured in such a way that the coil spring 330 is capable of deflecting and contacting the metal sheet 360 when being shaken in a predetermined direction.

When the housing 310 is shaken in a direction approximately perpendicular to the metal sheet 360, the coil spring 330 deflects and the floating end of the coil spring is capable of coming into contact with the metal sheet 360, which makes the vibration switch 300 change from an electrically open state to an electrically closed state. Thus, during the shaking of the housing 310, the vibration switch 300 keeps changing its state between the electrically closed state and the electrically open state. After the shaking of the housing 310 has ceased, the coil spring 330 recovers its original shape and position and the vibration switch 300 returns to the electrically open state.

Referring to FIG. 5, in another embodiment, the vibration switch 300 a includes a housing 310 a, two side caps 320 a, a movable member 330 a, and two contact terminals 340 a. A chamber 311 a is formed in the housing 310 a. The two side caps 320 a are attached to two ends of the housing 310 a respectively to cover the chamber 311 a, and are electrically coupled to the two contact terminals 340 a, respectively.

The movable member 330 a comprises an inertial weight 331 a and two coil springs 332 a. The coil springs 332 a are attached to two ends of the inertial weight 331 a respectively and are in contact with the two side caps 320 a. When the housing 310 a is shaken in a longitudinal direction, the inertial weight 331 a moves in the chamber 311 a and one of the two coil springs 332 a is capable of being out of contact with one of the two side caps 320 a, making the vibration switch 300 a change from an electrically open state to an electrically closed state.

The motion state determining unit 400 detects signals from the vibration switch 300 per unit time period, such that the number of times of state changing of the vibration switch 300 in a predetermined time period is monitored and counted. As shown in FIG. 2, in an exemplary embodiment, the relationship between the shake levels of the shaking of the handheld device 100 and the number of times of state changing of the vibration switch 300 is defined in the relationship table.

The sound volume determining unit 500 is used for determining a sound volume level that corresponds to the shake level determined by the motion sate determining unit 400 according to the relationship table. During the handheld device 100 is shaken, the processing unit 600 plays the shaking media file and controls the sound output unit 700 to output the shaking media file in a sound volume level determined by the sound volume determining unit 500, that is, the sound output unit 700 continues outputting the shaking media file in a sound volume level corresponded to the shake level until the shake level changes. When the shaking of the handheld device 100 ceases, the processing unit 600 ends the playing of the shaking media file and starts playing the fade-out media file.

Therefore, during the shaking of the handheld device 100, the sound volume of the sound of tumbling dice changes along with the changing of the shake levels. Furthermore, once the shaking of the handheld device has ceased, the fade-out media file is outputted to produce the sound effect that dice in the real world comes to a stop in a dice shaker gradually. In other words, the handheld device 100 is capable of providing the user with a realistic feel of physically shaking and rolling dice.

During the playing of the shaking media files and the fade-out media file, the simulation program is activated to provide users with a moving graphical representation of rolling dice and generate a game result randomly after the fade-out media file finishes playing. The graphical representation of rolling dice and the game result can be outputted to the users by the sound output unit 700 and video output unit 800.

Although the motion sensor 300 in the embodiment described above is a vibration switch, the motion sensor 300 may be an acceleration sensor. In case of an acceleration sensor, acceleration value of the shaking of the handheld device is monitored and the shake levels of the shaking of the handheld device 100 is determined based on the acceleration values.

While various embodiments have been described and illustrated, the disclosure is not to be constructed as being limited thereto. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A shaking responsive handheld device comprising: a storage unit storing at least one media file configured for reproducing sound of tumbling dice in a dice shaker; a sound output unit configured for outputting sound; a motion sensing unit capable of detecting a shaking motion imparted to the handheld device by a user; a motion state determining unit capable of monitoring a shake level of the shaking motion according to signals from the motion sensing unit; a processing unit, wherein, when the at least one media file is playing, the processing unit adjusts the sound volume of the sound output unit according to the shake level determined by the motion state determining unit.
 2. The shaking responsive handheld device according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensing unit is an acceleration sensor.
 3. The shaking responsive handheld device according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensing unit is a vibration switch.
 4. The shaking responsive handheld device according to claim 3, wherein the shake level is determined by detecting the number of times of state changing of the vibration switch per unit time period.
 5. The shaking responsive handheld device according to claim 3, wherein the vibration switch comprises a coil spring, a first contact terminal, and a second contact terminal, the coil spring is electrically coupled to the first contact terminal and is capable of deflecting and contacting the second contact terminal during the shaking of the handheld device.
 6. The shaking responsive handheld device according to claim 3, wherein the coil spring deflects when the handheld device is shaken in a predetermined direction.
 7. The shaking responsive handheld device according to claim 3, wherein the vibration switch comprises a chamber, a movable member with two spring ends, and two contact terminals, the moveable member is received in the chamber, the two spring ends contact with the first contact terminal and the second contact terminal respectively, at least one of the spring ends is capable of disengaging one of the two contact terminals during the shaking of the handheld device.
 8. The shaking responsive handheld device according to claim 7, wherein the movable member comprises an inertial weight and two coil springs, the two coil springs are attached to two ends of the inertial weight respectively.
 9. The shaking responsive handheld device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit further stores a fade-out media file for reproducing a sound effect of tumbling dice that roll inertially in a dice shaker after the dice shaker has stopped shaking, when having determined that the shaking motion ceases, the processing unit plays the fade-out media file.
 10. The shaking responsive handheld device according to claim 9, wherein the storage unit further stores a simulation program for generating a game result after the fade-out media file finishes playing. 